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A work-free vacation doesn’t exist for most Canadians

When Corina Newby takes a beach vacation, she packs more than sunscreen and a swimsuit. Her smartphone and her laptop are her constant companions.

“For my own peace of mind, I want to stay connected. I get nervous if I actually unplug,” she said.

The 32-year-old social media manager feels like her job requires commitment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – regardless of whether she’s on the clock or not. In fact, she has not taken a vacation in years that didn’t involve at least some work.

“In some ways, I obviously resent the fact that I do have to check in from time to time,” she said. “But if I wasn’t doing that, I would be more nervous and probably not enjoying myself anyway.”

She’s not alone. Eighty per cent of Canadians say they work during their vacations, according to a new Accenture study. During March break, many will check email, catch up on neglected work or even take part in conference calls, the study suggests.

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“It’s hard for men and women to disconnect, especially in the digital age,” said Lisa Grill, women’s initiative lead for Accenture in Canada. “But I think it’s a learned activity. I don’t think it’s inherent.”

Accenture conducted an online survey of 4,100 business executives in 33 countries, including Canada. Globally, 75 per cent said they work during vacation or paid time off.

This trend may appear to point to the end of work-life balance as we know it. But not everyone sees it as a bad thing. For Newby, having the flexibility to work anywhere, even poolside at a resort, actually frees up her schedule and eases her mind.

“I think when you’re really passionate and intellectually interested in what you’re doing, and you’re very dedicated to it, the idea of work and vacation being separate is not as appealing,” she said.

Christopher Higgins, a University of Western Ontario business professor who has studied work-related stress, said that working during your vacation or time off can be healthy – but only up to a point.

“The key is to understand the work-life boundary,” he said. “I think meal time with your family is a time you don’t cross it. I think going-to-bed time, with your young kids, is a time you don’t cross it.”

In the study, 76 per cent of Canadians said that technology helps them be more flexible with their schedule, but 80 per cent also said that it has allowed work to invade their personal life.

Higgins pointed out that many tasks that once kept professionals at the office late – or kept them from going on vacation in the first place – can now be done remotely. Better to reply to emails on the deck at the cottage than not be there at all, he said.

“Let’s face it, you’re not going to have work-life balance if you don’t have a job,” he said. “To do well in our business world, you’ve got to be committed to your organization and sometimes commitment goes beyond 9 to 5.”

Young people at the start of their careers may be feeling more pressure to work extra hours. Jessica Grossman, a 23-year-old marketer and digital strategist, recently went on a vacation to Jamaica. She worked on her laptop in the hotel lobby at least two hours a day.

“Because I’m so young and I’m starting out in the industry, I need to be on top of everything all the time to prove myself,” she said. “I love doing it, but I also know that if I didn’t do it, I wouldn’t be able to succeed.”

Scott Schieman, a University of Toronto sociology professor who has studied work-life balance, said that even people who love their jobs need to take breaks.

“Often, loving your work and being engaged with your work goes hand in hand with having a lot of pressure, having a lot of demands and being productive constantly,” he said.

“Does shutting that down, even for a day, recharge and refresh in a way that’s beneficial? There’s evidence that it is.”

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